TWO WONDERFUL SEMI-FINALS AT NEWBRIDGE

Ian Fortune

Both semi-finals of the Brownstown Tango & NTSC Open Unraced Bitch 525 provided a tremendous finish with Crafty Shivoo and Burgess Orlaith seeing off more fancied rivals in their respective heats.

Neither could be described as lucky winners, however.

SHIVOO IMPRESSES

Honour of gong fastest went to Crafty Shivoo as she posted 28.61 in the second heat.

For much of the way it seemed as though Crafty Shivoo would have to settle for a second placed finish as Ballyhimikinluck won their battle into the turn to open a two and a half length lead to halfway.

Crafty Shivoo was not going to be denied, however. Peter and Brian Divilly’s daughter of Droopys Sydney and Ballymac Sanjose started to ease closer around the last two bends before pouncing on the run in.

In a superb finish, Crafty Shivoo proved too strong for Ballyhimikinluck, coming through in the closing yards to win by a half length. Roanna Butts also flew home to finish just a neck away in third.

ORLAITH REELS IN COCO

Burgess Orlaith was an impressive winner of the opening heat.

This was a great contest between two wonderful young bitches. Boylesports Coco didn’t come away as well as she did in her two previous wins but displayed enough early speed to lead on the turn.

Burgess Orlaith was always a close second, however, and this set up a thrilling finish. Showing real strength, JJ Fennelly and Sheila Spillane’s daughter of Burgess Bucks and Burgess Dancer closed on Boylesports Coco into the third turn before making her move on the run in.

Both bitches ran their heart out but the verdict went to Burgess Orlaith as she stormed up the home straight to collar the long-time leader for a three parts of a length success in 28.67. Sunshine Zoe stayed on well to finish just two lengths back in third.

BROWNSTOWN TANGO & NTSC OPEN UNRACED

Final Draw

1 BURGESS ORLAITH

2 ROANNA BUTTS

3 BOYLESPORTS COCO

4 CRAFTY SHIVOO

5 SUNSHINE ZOE (M)

6 BALLYHIMIKINLUCK (M)